Nice Work! You’ve gone solar! Take a moment to admire your shiny new panels on your roof and inspect your inverter humming away.
What happens next? Well, don’t fear…we’re not going to leave you high and dry. We are available anytime for any questions you have. But here are a few pointers to get you started.
Inverter monitoring
All solar inverters we use allow you to monitor your energy production on an online portal, assuming you have WiFi Modem. Our friendly office staff will activate your online portal and send you login details in the days following your installation. This online monitoring is be a great way for you to notice any unexpected changes to your production, indicating a fault or error which can be addressed quickly. You can look at our blogs to better understand your monitoring. We are also able to log in and check your system, so if you have any questions, feel free to call us.
Some of you may have even upgraded to a Smart Meter which gives you a detailed breakdown of your consumption and production. This is an excellent tool for managing your energy use to maximise your energy savings and bring that electricity bill down.
Solar panel cleaning
Panels often do a good job of “self cleaning” when it rains, assuming they are tilted to at least 10 degrees. In a clean area with no trees and shading, cleaning your panels may only need to happen every five years. In other areas, as dust random bird and bat poos accumulate, it may be best to have you have your panels cleaned every year or two by a professional. We’re happy to help with this, Call us on 07 3268 3836 today or head on over to our service page.
If you are the type of person who would never hire someone to do something you can do yourself, at least you should know the basics before you get the ladder out!
First, turn off the inverter (solar supply main switch first, DC isolator second). Next harness up: wet roofs are not fun. When you get on the roof, turn off the DC Isolator(s) adjacent the panels. Don’t walk on the panels, this causes micro-cracks (unless they are Sunpower, and you can gently walk on them if necessary).
Clean the panels with a hose and a soft bristle broom. No chemicals, no scouring. Solar panels have an anti-reflective coating that can easily be scrubbed off. Don’t touch the cables under the panels. If you see something that looks odd or damaged, take a photo and send it to us. We’ll sort it out for you.
Note, even with the DC isolator turned off, there is still a small risk of a shock. The shock probably wouldn’t kill you, but the sudden stop – when you hit the ground (you didn’t listen to that harness advice) may really hurt.
As a safer alternative, call the Solar Service Guys. 1300 774 897.
Monitor your surroundings
When we install your panels, we take into account factors such as shading. This, however, doesn’t account for future growth – so if you have any shrubs or bushes becoming lovely little trees, or pesky neighbours putting up established trees for privacy – it may be best to assess how this affects your shade.
Luckily, there are solutions (we advise against a midnight guerrilla pruning of your neighbour’s trees!). Technology options are becoming more available to assist with maximising your solar – one such option is the Tigo optimisers which can more easily be retrofitted to your system.
Care and proper management of your solar system will ensure it operates to its potential for many years, keeping your electricity bill down and your system in good condition.
Thanks again for choosing MC Electrical, and feel free to call us if we can assist you with your solar in any way.
